Key facts
- China's military base in Djibouti has been upgraded with new antennas and satellite communications equipment.
- The upgrades are expected to enhance China's ability to monitor military activity across the Middle East and Africa.
- The base's new facilities will likely provide China with a more robust picture of the operating environment in the region.
- The base, opened in 2017, is located near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a key maritime trade choke point.
China has upgraded its military base in Djibouti, enhancing its capacity to monitor military activities across the Middle East and Africa, according to a report released by the US think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on Thursday. Commercial satellite imagery indicates the installation of new antennas, satellite communications equipment, and other assets at China's only formally acknowledged overseas military base.
The report suggests these upgrades, including two new communications compounds that appeared since mid-2024, are likely part of a broader intelligence and military command architecture. This would strengthen communication between Chinese forces operating in the region and their headquarters in China. The type and orientation of the new equipment enable transmission and detection across a wide range of signals and frequencies, providing China with a more comprehensive view of regional military operations.
The base, established in 2017, serves as a key hub for Chinese naval operations in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, situated near the critical Bab al-Mandeb Strait. CSIS noted that the base's capabilities have evolved to support increasingly sophisticated operations, helping the People's Liberation Army Navy establish a growing foothold in the region. While it's not possible to determine if communications are actively being intercepted, the facilities could allow China to derive insights into other militaries' operations by observing signal characteristics.
The United States, France, Italy, and Japan also operate bases within approximately 10 miles (16 km) of China's facility. The report posits that these enhancements could support China's expanding influence in Africa, where it has been increasing both economic and security engagement.